“Well,” said the Grandfather, “I’ll do one too.  In 30 days we’ll see who has gotten the most hits on their video, and the loser buys dinner!”

The agent is mid 30′s – the Seller is past his mid 60′s.  This is not a Fluke.  Grandparents, and those from “The Greatest Generation” are being helped with all kinds of programs aimed at getting them more familiar with new techie gadgets.  One program, which runs Nationwide from Dec 1 to Dec 30 pairs teenagers and “grandparents” in their communities for one on one teaching. The Grandparents Gone Wired site claims that:

Kids can visit the site to register. They then fill out a checklist with areas of expertise (such as email set up, Facebook, Skype). They are then asked to reach out to a senior citizen that could benefit from those skills and mentor them on how to get connected. Reporting on that progress will make them eligible to win the prizes.

In Many Parts Of the Country – Seniors Have The Money

There are new shows on TV about “My House Your Money” (or something similar) where the kids are buying a house with the parents money.   This phenomenon is not likely to change!

If you are potentially working with “Seniors” you need to first remember that they will likely spend as much, if not more time, online learning as much as they can about an area, a house, financing options, closing costs – and yes, YOU as they can prior to ever meeting you!  This is also a group of people who likes to print information off – Women out number men on Facebook 2 to 1 – so if you are targeting those over 55+ remember to add some PDF’s to your information that are fairly easy to print off and hand to someone else (in large print).

If you have a fairly easy time connecting with this age group, why not volunteer to teach classes?  I’ve suggested that instead of a car wash to raise money, the kids at church could do a series of classes like the Grandparents Gone Wired.

When you are advertising these classes, or creating blog content for them, I would stay away from referring to folks as “Seniors.”  No one wants to be reminded how old they are.  “Active 55+” is the best reference point you can make.

But because there’s so much more to read, people are picky about what they read. Seniors especially. People will read amazing amounts of material if it’s interesting and personally relevant.

I would not ASSUME that a Grandparent does not text, or watch Videos.  There are plenty of Grandparents that have Droids, at a Neighborhood party last night one pulled his out and began showing me pictures of the fish he’d caught!  I’d ASK – just like you would any other potential client, “What’s the best way for us to stay in touch an exchange information?”

This niche should be treated just like any other excellent referral group (Teachers Come to Mind).   Seniors are looking to be sure that you are who you say you are, and you’ll do what you say you’ll do.  Because of that, being able to read Recommendations from REAL PEOPLE is very important.

Think these guys aren’t Hip?  Have you looked at the AARP site lately?  The current headlines include, SmartPhone Apps for Aging in Place, Your Facebook Wall is About to Change, Is Google+ For You?  Just like you would target blog content to Investors, or First Time Home Buyers – targeting the 55+ Niche Market is probably a great addition to your 2012 plan!

PICNIK

Picnik is a free tool now owned by Google.  Just open up the site, upload your picture, and you can change the exposure, add text comments, add a little more color to the grass… miracles happen!  Unlike Flickr, this is not a “cloud storage” system… It’s more like a Free PhotoShop (that’s not as complicated as GIMP).  Another helpful tool included with Picnik?  It can resize photos in a SNAP!  Need a profile picture for Twitter that’s way smaller than you have?  Upload to Picnik and set the exact size!  The Premium Service for the year is less than $30, and very much worth it!

Check this out:

If I was a seller, and this was the picture the agent put on the Internet, I’d be FURIOUS!  This looks like one of those shot from the car deals!

But, you put the picture in Picnik, and hit ROTATE, you will see a bar that says “Straighten.”  Move the bar, and a graph appears on the picture, moving it to the “straightened” position!

Fortunately, Google has tons of other Free Real Estate Tools available for us to use in 2012! If you have some great examples of cool things with Google Maps, or YouTube, or G+ pages, share them! We’d love to see how other people are using these tools!

There’s no proven rule that says you must show up online with the words “homes in Plano” next to your name in order to be found on the first page for “homes in Plano….”  However, from my personal experience, I can share that if you have at least 35 pages that are between 150 and 250 words focused with unique and interesting information about YOUR keyword phrase, you have a fairly good shot at being found.

35 Pages?  You Must Be Kidding???

Granted, it would be TOUGH to come up with 35 pages JUST about Homes in Plano if those were the only words you were using – so try this:

1. New Construction Homes in Plano
2. New Homes in Plano
3. Neighborhoods with New Homes in Plano
4. How to Buy Foreclosed Homes in Plano
5. How to Buy HUD Foreclosed Homes in Plano
6. How to Buy Veteran Administration Homes in Plano
7. Seller Repairs Required When Selling Homes in Plano
8. Special Financing on Homes in Plano for First Time Home Buyers
9. One Story Homes in Plano Perfect For Active 55+
10. How to Find Senior Living Homes in Plano
11. $200,000 Homes in Plano and Less, What Features to Expect
12. Homes in Plano Near Highest Ranking Schools
13. Homes in Plano Easy Commute to Airport
14. 3 Things Buyers Need To Know About Short Sales and Homes in Plano
15. List of Homes in Plano That Need Renovations
16. Homes in Plano near Golf Course Communities
17. Homes in Plano Near Medical Park
18. Homes in Plano with Swimming Pools
19. Homes in Plano in Communities with Tennis Pros
20. Homes in Plano in Swim Communities
21. Homes in Plano on the Golf Course
22. Homes in Plano with No Home Owner Associations
23. Homes in Plano Near Equestrian Centers
24. Homes in Plano in Equestrian Communities
25. List of Foreclosed Homes in Plano
26. Available:  Rent to Own Homes in Plano
27. Big Porches on These Homes in Plano
28. Rent vs Own Information for Homes in Plano
29. New Custom Built Homes in Plano
30. Homes in Plano in Gated Communites
31. Homes in Plano Built by Green Home Builders
32. Homes in Plano with Mother In Law Suites
33. In Law Suites You Can Find in Homes in Plano
34. Homes in Plano with Detached Garages
35. Homes in Plano with Acreage

Now, if you wrote one page every other day or so, and linked all of it together – you’d have more information available about Homes in Plano than just about anyone else.  If, in addition to this, you did a real estate Market Report indicating how many Homes in Plano are distressed properties, and how many of those properties are selling each month – and another Market Report that showed the Absorption rates for the Homes in Plano that are for sale in the “farms” you are working – you will be surprised at how much difference it will make!

DISCLAIMER:

If you’ve done much snooping around on this site – you already know that we think you should start with a NICHE market, and not try to start blogging, for the first time, to EVERYONE in Plano.  Once you get found under one search term, (Like a Neighborhood or Farm) THEN you can add another one! The thing to remember is that Content, VIDEO and PICTURES are also part of what will help you get to the top of Google faster.  So don’t just Target Everybody who can Buy and Sell Real Estate within 300 miles of you… start with a NICHE – and move out from there!

If you need more help working on your Keyword List, or you have questions about creating Great Blog Content, let me know!  I love helping agents who are trying to improve their search, and generate Internet Leads!  I’d love to help you and learn more about what’s working in your market! Are you on Facebook and Twitter?  Let’s Connect!

People use Google for research and reviews more than they use Yahoo, Bing, AOL or ASK.  In the United States Google is reaching over 65% of all Search Results!  It’s important to remember, however that Google is not just a search engine!  It also has powerful tools including YouTube, Gmail, Google Docs, Google Adwords (pay per click), Picnik and Picassa.

Top 2011 Google Tools for Real Estate Agents in 2012

• Google Keyword Tool:  Use the Keyword Tool to find the 2 and 3 word Phrases that you want to be found under.  Also, check out your competition, and see what terms your competitor’s sites are using!
• Google Analytics:  Use the Analytics to see who is coming to your site, what is referring them to the site and how long they are staying.  (Okay – it’s not going to really tell you the name of the people who come to the site, but it does give you some great intel!)
• Google Places and Google Local Business Listings:  You should be showing up on local listings, especially mobile searches, be sure you’ve added yourself to your business location!
• Picnik: Real Estate Agents who do not take “perfect” pictures (like one that might be slightly crooked?) should definitely check out Picnik.  Works like a charm!
• Google Real Estate Search:  There’s not a Google Real Estate Search at this point, and though there’s been some rumors that Google is testing something for 2012, I can’t find any real support for that theory.
• Google + Business pages:  Google allows you to create 10 different pages per Google Account, so if you are the ambitious type and just WANT to have one page for First Time Home Buyers, One for Green Homes (for instance), and another on Avoiding Foreclosure, you could! They’ve only been out for about 4 weeks – but it’s been proven already that content shared by businesses and brands via Google+ is becoming more and more prevalent in search results.
• Custom Google Maps:  This is probably one of the least used, best features available to Agents. Most locals, like Atlanta, have “common” terms for certain areas we’ve all heard of – like “Buckhead.”  If you think that might be an interested in living in… wouldn’t you like to know what general area that is on a map?  Draw it out!  Add your favorite coffee shops, and parks.  Include a video of the area on the map, and then refer folks to the map at the bottom of each post about Buckhead!  Live in a more Rural Setting?  You can create a map that shows which homes near by qualify for USDA financing… or Create a Map of a Golf Course.
• You Tube: Don’t think you are ready for Video?  Look at Jing and learn how to do a quick video from that CMA you just finished!

Internet users watched an all-time high of 42.6 billion videos during October, with YouTube accounting for 20.9 billion of those views — 49.1% of the total. ComScore credits YouTube/Google with an audience of just under 161 million unique viewers, almost triple the reach of Facebook, which was second with a little less than 60 million unique viewers.

If you need more help working on your Keyword List, or you have questions about creating Great Blog Content, let me know!  I love helping agents who are trying to improve their search, and generate Internet Leads!  I’d love to help you and learn more about what’s working in your market! Are you on Facebook and Twitter?  Let’s Connect!

We have an eBook available on Fathom Cafe, and we received this question:  “I’m working on an ebook but unsure how to “push” it out. Suggestions on how to get sign-ups and then to either have the book downloadable or emailed automatically? Really appreciate your time and response!”

First off, creating an ebook, on “How To Buy A House” or “What Is A Short Sale” or anything else that answers an important question that people are searching for information on is a GREAT way to generate leads!

The Free Mechanics of “Automatically Downloading”

There are multiple ways to make an ebook automatically downloadable.  One FREE way to do this would be to use the Gmail’s Autoresponder.  To get to this feature, login to Gmail, click on Mail Settings (the little flower looking icon in the top right corner of the screen) and you will see General, Labels… keep looking to the right and go to Labs.  From there you need to enable “Canned Responses.”  Compose your email, and save it as a “Canned Response.”  (Here’s another quick idea for using canned responses and gmail) While this works great for many Real Estate Internet Lead Generating campaigns, I’m not convinced it’s the best way to deliver an ebook.

Gravity Forms

If you are going to offer the ebook from your personal website, you might want to consider investing $39 a year and using the Gravity Form Plugin for WordPress.  Once you sign up for the Service and Install the plugin, you’ll need to insert your license key and sign up for Recaptcha (which is free).

Simple text boxes, multiple choice check boxes and drop down menus are all possible with this plugin.  You chose what you want completed.  There’s even a whole host of automatically generated templates for things like name and email address or telephone number.  You can make the fields required or optional.

Then you can set up the response so that once your required fields are completed, a response is generated containing the link to your downloadable ebook… one way to set up the response is to create a page on your site for the customer to land on once they complete the required fields.

Gravity Forms will integrate easily with Mail Chimp, Campaign Monitor and Aweber for further Campaigns.  Another plugin you could use would be Custom Contact Forms, which is free.  It does not have as many options as Gravity Forms, but  it does allow you the flexibility of collecting contact information once the required fields are completed.

“Pushing” The ebook

The second part of the question was really about how to get folks to see the ebook… that’s a little more tricky!  The most targeted, budget friendly way to do this would possibly be via Facebook pay per click campaigns.  It really depends on your sphere of influence, and what topic your ebook is on.  Like any other social media marketing campaign to generate Real Estate Internet Leads, the best answer is to make it easy for the customer to find, create a compelling message (“Download Your Free eBook”), and make sure you target it to your audience… meaning what you say with a link to the free download on LinkedIn will likely be different than what you say on Facebook, G+ and Twitter.

I’m psyched about 2012, and the opportunities for Real Estate Agents to use these new tools to engage with new clients, and create more Real Estate Internet Leads!

If you have questions about creating leads from your real estate blog, or how to get your Listing seen by more eyeballs – contact me.  I’d love to help you and learn more about what’s working in your market! Are you on Facebook and Twitter?  Let’s Connect!

Google-bots do not speak Real Estate, and they can’t read the words on Images. 

MLS only gives you a a few spaces for a description, and the other Real Estate Agents reading MLS understand 3BR 2.5BA – but that means NOTHING to the Google-bots!  Take the time to use REAL spelling in your description on the property!

“It’s Not Sunny and 72 Degrees Everywhere – Real Estate Is Local”

I totally agree with the need for agents to publish  Hyper Local Real Estate Information!  But just publishing a chart in .jpg or .png format, with a graph indicating something you think is important is NOT going to help you get the information seen by Search Engines (SEO)!  The thing to remember is that search engines cannot “read” the words and numbers on images.  They can only read the descriptions, titles and tags that you give your images.

• Naming your image as 234908890.jpg is not nearly as good as “Distressed_Houses_Plano_Oct_2011.”
• Images should always have the ALT and TITLE filled In – scroll over the image below to see why.

The same concept applies to LINKS.  When you are linking to relevant anchor text, a little box pops up – do you make certain you have the Title complete?  Are you opening the link on a separate page that takes them away from your site?

Filling in the Title is especially helpful if you are directing someone to complete a form, or asking them if they want to receive more information on your real estate market.

I was recently reminded that “Home Finder” means different things to different agents!  For some, it’s a service provided by their MLS.  A potential buyer indicates an interest, and you set them up to receive updates based upon their requirements.

For others… “Home Finder” means you are directing the potential home buyer to a spot on your website to search for homes!

Google-bots (and the other search engine spiders) don’t know the difference either! To get the most out of your Real Estate Blogging efforts, remember to complete each Title, each Alternate Text and no more than 120 words for a Description that is “readable” for images and links.  Give Clear Directions.

One More Tip!

If you live in an area that is regularly miss spelled, like Raleigh (that i before e thing) or your NAME is regularly miss spelled – you can sneak those miss spellings into the Title and Alt Text info.  Will someone who scrolls over it see that miss spelled word – yes, but it’s not offensive, and it will help you show up when someone puts the miss spelled word into the “Google Bar!”

If you have questions about creating leads from your real estate blog, or how to get your Listing seen by more eyeballs – contact me.  I’d love to help you and learn more about what’s working in your market! Are you on Facebook and Twitter?  Let’s Connect!

]]> http://www.fathomcafe.com/google-does-not-speak-real-estate/feed/ 1 http://www.fathomcafe.com/google-maps-useful-for-real-estate/ http://www.fathomcafe.com/google-maps-useful-for-real-estate/#comments Sun, 20 Nov 2011 20:53:16 +0000 Josh Harley http://www.fathomcafe.com/?p=1425 Google offers wonder Map Tools for Real Estate!  You can tailor the Map to be a “Nickle” Tour you might give someone of your favorite spots near a listing, or create a Map based upon the CMA you just finished!  You can even go 3D and pull images of what the area looks like, and share that look!

Getting Started

For best results use a Web Browser OTHER THAN Internet Explorer, so Safari, Firefox, Chrome.  Login to your Google Account, and at the Google bar, click on Maps in the top left tool bar.  The familiar Google Map will show up, and right next to Get Directions, you should notice “My Places.”

In the Address Bar, put in the address you would like to start with, then click My Places, and Create  New.  You will have the opportunity to drag the icon to any place on the map, enter your own description, paste in a YouTube Video, or change the marker “shape.”

Making Maps Work For You

Let’s say you are working with someone in love with the GasLamp Quarter in San Diego, and they tell you that they’ve stayed at the Hyatt one time, and they loved going to Croche’s Resturant.  You can easily create a map like this, with the markers they are familiar with, and icons for the condos near by.

What if someone says they love to jog?  Create a map with a jogging trail, embed video, or give them hints of places they can park!

Have you just completed a CMA, and you are about to list a property higher than the other houses nearby?  If you feel justified with the higher price, why not mark 5 or 6 properties on a map, and put a link in each marker.  Then do a quick video showing each property, and say why your property should be priced higher!

BUT WAIT!  There’s More!

When you are on the Maps Page (as long as you have the most recent version of Firefox, or Chrome, you have the option to play with Maps GL!  Look at the very bottom of the left hand Column.  3 D Maps that you can embed!

Check out all of the other great tools Google has for Real Estate Agents to use in 2012!

Four of the posts cover how to clean your chimney out, based on the four main types of chimney’s in her area. Four of them are about shopping for energy efficient doors and windows for your house. Four of them are about her listings (that she says are all over priced).

The problem, of course, is the subject she’s choosing.  What the Newsletter Companies told you to write about when you are sending information out to your past clients is really NOT the information that people are searching for on the Internet.

Are potential home buyers still searching for hyper local information about their area, neighborhoods and events?  Certainly, but just like there are more showings (in most parts of the country) for distressed and foreclosed homes, there are more people using those types of word in their search terms.

Here’s what I found:

MEDIUM COMPETITION

• how to buy foreclosed homes -27,100 hits
• how to sell a house -673,000 hits
• why won’t my house sell -590 hits
• how to sell a property -450,000 hits
• how to sell a home -550,000 hits
• cost of selling a home -18,100 hits
• foreclosure process -90,500 hits
• texas foreclosure laws -2400 hits
• help me sell my home -74,000 hits

HIGH COMPETITION

• list of foreclosed homes for sale -2900 hits
• free list of foreclosed homes for sale -9900 hits
• free listing of foreclosed homes -22,200 hits
• foreclosed homes for sale -165,000 hits
• bank foreclosed homes -40,500 hits
• list foreclosed homes -110,000 hits
• list of foreclosed houses -14,800 hits
• free foreclosure listings -60,500 hits
• cheap houses for sale -74,000 hits
• pre-foreclosure -33,100 hits
• how to avoid foreclosure -40,500 hits
• help selling my home -260 hits

How to Clean a Chimney gets 1400 searches.  So I’m not knocking it as a subject – I just don’t think there are that many people who are ACTIVELY interested in buying or selling a home who are searching for more information on that topic.  You are more likely to get results, and questions, if you can answer some of these questions:

Where can I get a Free List of Foreclosed Houses?  What is the Foreclosure Process in North Carolina?  FAQ:  How to Sell A Home in Plano Texas, The Cost of Selling A Home in San Diego, How to Find Cheap Houses For Sale in Orange County, How to Buy A Foreclosed Home From a Bank, Minimum Credit Score To Buy Bank Foreclosed Homes, or Home Owner Says “Help Me Sell My Home!”

If you need more help working on your Keyword List, or you have questions about creating Great Blog Content, let me know!  I love helping agents who are trying to improve their search, and generate Internet Leads!  I’d love to help you and learn more about what’s working in your market! Are you on Facebook and Twitter?  Let’s Connect!

These pages are easy to make, but they don’t have shared administrators.  Because of this, it will make Social Media Policy makers scratch their heads for a bit while they try to figure out the best practice (Google made the same mistake IMHO with the Google Places /Map Pages).  Another miss, as far as I’m concerned?  The inability to create a custom URL, Businesses are sadly stuck with an ugly string of random characters, rather than a vanity URL – which makes it harder to put on a business card, or direct to the page with other print advertising.

Google allows you to create 10 different pages per Google Account, so if you are the ambitious type and just WANT to have one page for First Time Home Buyers, One for Green Homes (for instance), and another on Avoiding Foreclosure, you could! Another thing you need to consider before creating your page is what your tagline is going to be.  You only have 10 words!  So knowing what your keywords are, and what your target “Categories,” and “Sub-Categories” are, will make setting up the page so much quicker.

To Get Started, you will need a Google Account, and you need the “Main” Telephone Number for your Business

Categories – how do you know which one is right for you?  As a Real Estate Company, you will probably have to decide if you want to be a Local Business (which is what most Agents will be) or a Company.  If you are “branding” yourself as a Short Sales Specialist – you might want to add the page as a Product or Brand based upon the Google+ recommendations.

Local Business or Place: Google+ says this category is best for hotels, restaurants, places, stores, services

Product or Brand: Google + says this category is best for apparel, cars, electronics, financial services

Company, Institution or Organization:  Google + says this category is best for companies, institutions, organizations, non-profits

We should also look at how this plays in perfectly with the recent changes Google made to it’s SEO Algorythm.  It’s more important than ever to have a well thought out Social Media Plan for your Real Estate Practice.

Yes, Content is important, but there’s already a TON of Content on the Web.  These days, people need to see that you are who you say you are, and you’ll do what you say you’ll do.  The “Trust Factor” given to reviews, and interaction is incredible!  Bottom line?  Even if you only have your baby toe in the water with Social Media – you need to begin gathering reviews (from real people, not the “Great Job” A. Smith).

Where can Real Estate Agents Get Reviewed?

These days, you can get recommendations and reviews almost EVERYWHERE.  If you have your business set up with the Local Map Searches, then you can get recommendations there.  Facebook Business Pages also has a review feature, Yelp Businesses can be reviewed – and that’s just for starters!

Do you have your Zillow, Realtor.com and Trulia profiles complete?  They have the option of allowing you to get recommendations and reviews from past clients!

Also, if you’re like Jay, and you are contributing on Zillow, have your profile complete, and have positive reviews… they will give you featured preference on listings when the agent doesn’t have their profile complete!  Being a member of the “Community” has a ton of FREE benefits!

What about LinkedIn?  Many Real Estate Agents know other businesses owners through their chambers and charities.  Connect with these folks – GIVE reviews to past clients, THEN ask for a review.  No, you might not work with them, but you know that they are detail oriented, team players, possess high values – all things employers want to see in employees!

If you have questions about creating leads from your real estate blog, or how to get your Listing seen by more eyeballs – contact me.  I’d love to help you and learn more about what’s working in your market! Are you on Facebook and Twitter?  Let’s Connect!